roof rat

noun

1. a black rat, Rattus rattus alexandrinus, often found on the upper floors of buildings in warm areas.

Word History and Origins

Origin of roof rat¹

First recorded in 1810–20

Example Sentences

There is the black rat or roof rat, with a tail nearly always longer than its body.

From Seattle Times

The black rat—also known as the ship rat, the roof rat, and the house rat—is actually gray.

From The New Yorker

The animal most likely to be involved in an airplane infestation is a roof rat, a species prevalent in Atlanta, Artimovich said.

From BusinessWeek

The roof rat is common in many parts of the South, where it is a persistent pest in cane and rice fields.

From Project Gutenberg